Developers World Championship: Match Report - India v Austria (Group C)

INDIA Chess Elite (99Games)

VS AUSTRIA NER Pong Plus (NER Brothers)

In the previous day's opening Group C match the tournament hosts, England, served up a feast of attacking play and overran the American side 4-2.

Today’s clash in Group C saw two lower profile gaming nations meet under the grand old arches of the PG iStadium, as India took on Austria in the early kick-off.

Representing the subcontinent was Chess Elite by 99Games, a modern take on a classic boardgame.

At the last minute, the siblings in charge of the Austrian side discarded their original plan and plumped for an interpretation of the iconic ping-pong simulation, NER Pong Plus.

Who would prevail in this battle of wits, cunning, and concentration?

Kick Off: 12.30pm, 13th June The critical view: Straight off the bat Chess Elite impressed, with excellent online matchmaking skills allowing it to isolate Austrian defenders in ever dangerous positions. In tandem with the official ELO ratings updated in-game, the ota match-ups conjured up an opener for the Indian side.

The Pong remake couldn’t find any rhythm in the midday sun, relying heavily on its familiarity and gentle gameplay. Its retro style, eerily reminiscent of the mullet and sideburns on display from the Canadian's Dark Void Zero in Friday’s launch game, drew admiring glances, but it wasn’t proving enough in the midfield battle.

After a sloppy piece of defending by the Pong paddle in which it completely missed a throughball, Chess Elite’s recent star recruit, Grandmaster Natalia Pogonina, was one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The 14th best female chess player on the Planet, signed from Kiev in early May, made no mistake, slotting home for India’s second of the afternoon.

NER Brothers’ table tennis title had no response to that second goal, its head-to-head mode trumped by the chess game’s asynchronous play and option to play multiple boards simultaneously.

India was cruising to victory on this glorious summer’s day.

Half time: India 2 – 0 Austria The Fans' 45: Sensing victory was in the air, the Indian support quickly sought to help finish the tie off, so that no unnecessary energy was expended before the next group game.

Flares, horns, and inflatable pawns were all on display from the vibrant Chess Elite fans, whose positive energy transmitted itself onto the players who attacked in all directions (although specifically diagonally, vertically and horizontally) to notch another goal, before a particularly neat Knight to Queens Bishop 4 move ensured a virtual checkmate at 4-0. A late, late consolation strike from NER Pong Plus offered some joy for those few Austrian fans still in attendance, but by this point their king had well and truly been rolled over.

Full time: India 4 – 1 Austria Latest Group Tables - Fixtures & Voting - Squads

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